Townsville State Development Area

Declared in 2003, the 4915-hectare Townsville State Development Area (SDA) is a defined area of land dedicated for industrial development. It is located about six kilometres south-east of the Townsville CBD and 2km south of the Port of Townsville.

Situated at the junction of the national road network (Bruce and Flinders Highways), with direct connections to major rail networks and the Port of Townsville, the Townsville SDA is positioned to be the preferred location in North Queensland for the establishment of industrial development of regional, state and National significance.

Managed by the Coordinator-General, the Townsville SDA supports economic development in a way that considers environmental, cultural and social issues as well as existing industry and surrounding infrastructure within the region.

The Townsville SDA development scheme

The Townsville SDA development scheme is a regulatory document that controls land use within the Townsville SDA.

First approved by the state government in 2005, the development scheme has been amended numerous times. The current version was approved in July 2013 following a series of detailed investigations including environmental, economic and infrastructure studies in the Townsville SDA.

Note: The Townsville SDA Development Scheme uses the terminology change a use of land. An application to change a use of land means an SDA application for a material change of use.

The development scheme for the Townsville SDA is supported by a Public consultation policy ( 65 KB) that provides information on matters the Coordinator-General may consider when determining whether public consultation of an SDA application is required.

Amendments

The below table lists changes to the boundary of the Townsville SDA and the Development Scheme for the Townsville SDA.

Year

Amendment

2010

Development Scheme for the Townsville SDA

Small change made to the Materials Transportation and Services Corridor Precinct to facilitate the construction of the Townsville Port Access Road, which will run through the SDA.

2013

Townsville SDA boundary

Small expansion to include an area of approximately 12.5 hectares between the Stuart Bypass and Flinders Highway in the SDA.

Development Scheme for the Townsville SDA

Template and format changes

New and updated land use precincts to

provide greater development certainty to prospective proponents

take advantage of their proximity to the Port of Townsville and road and rail routes, and

protect areas containing environmental values with the potential to be used as offset areas.

Acceleration of the Townsville SDA

The strategic importance of the Townsville SDA was recognised in the release of the Townsville City Deal. The Townsville City Deal is a 15-year commitment between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Townsville City Council and will focus on improving the lives of Townsville residents through job creation, economic growth, investment in local infrastructure, a revitalised urban centre, and a more vibrant and liveable city.

Acceleration of the Townsville SDA is a key commitment in the Townsville City Deal with the Coordinator-General committed to identifying opportunities to accelerate the Townsville SDA. The Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning is leading engagement with the Australian Government and Townsville City Council on the Townsville City Deal.

Land use assessment and approval

The Townsville SDA is subject to a development scheme that regulates and controls land use and infrastructure planning and development within the area.

The Coordinator-General assesses and decides all SDA applications and requests within SDAs.

The Coordinator-General may forward applications to state government agencies and local government for review and comment.

Note: The Townsville SDA Development Scheme uses the terminology change a use of land. An application to change a use of land means an SDA application for a material change of use.

Depending on the nature of the development, the SDA application may be required to undergo public consultation. The development scheme for the Townsville SDA is supported by a Public consultation policy ( 65 KB) that provides information on matters the Coordinator-General may consider when determining whether public consultation of an SDA application is required.

Land ownership

The majority of land within the Townsville SDA is currently under freehold land ownership, with a significant portion owned by a small number of landowners.

The Coordinator-General owns some land within the Townsville SDA. The Coordinator-General's land holdings include land for multi-user infrastructure corridors, industrial development and buffer areas.

The Coordinator-General secured infrastructure corridors in the Townsville SDA to deliver the Townsville Port Access Road, which opened in December 2013 and to preserve land for a future Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor to connect the North Coast Line directly to the Port of Townsville.

For more information on the land owned by the Coordinator-General contact the SDA Division on 1800 001 048.

Development opportunities strategy

The department released a Development opportunities strategy for the Townsville State Development Area in 2013.

Developed by consultants Urbis in collaboration with the Office of the Coordinator-General, the strategy:

sets out a vision and preferred pattern of land use in the area

details potential land-use precincts and the development opportunities they offer businesses and industries

describes conditions whereby development could occur in each precinct

proposes a staged approach to the development of the Townsville SDA

recommends actions for stakeholders to realise the full potential for the area.

The release of the strategy followed a comprehensive re-evaluation of land uses in the Townsville SDA and was informed by targeted stakeholder consultation.